W&J College Hosts Fulbright Summer Seminar

Students from Germany participated in the Fulbright Summer Seminar at Washington & Jefferson College.

This program highlights W&J’s ability to offer high-quality international seminars and demonstrates W&J’s commitment to international education.” – Michael Shaughnessy, associate dean of Graduate Studies and International Programs

Washington, Pa. (PRWEB)August 28, 2017

Cultures came together at Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) this summer as the institution hosted 23 German students through the Fulbright Summer Seminar.

The prestigious program is held at two universities in the United States each summer, and the 2017 hosts were W&J and Virginia Tech. Participants at W&J stayed on campus from July 24 through Aug. 10.

“This program highlights W&J’s ability to offer high-quality international seminars and demonstrates W&J’s commitment to international education,” said Michael Shaughnessy, associate dean of Graduate Studies and International Programs.

Corey Young, director of W&J’s Center for Energy Policy and Management, led a seminar for the students on “American Society and Culture: Reimagining the Rust Belt, Sustainability as a New Tradition.” The program also took German students to local attractions for learning opportunities and leisure, including the Bradford House, the Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, Pa., and touring fracking pads, which are vital to the region’s Marcellus Shale gas industry.

Shaughnessy was instrumental in bringing the German Fulbright program to W&J after he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 2016.

“This came from my work as a Fulbright Scholar in France. We had a meeting with the French and German contingents of the Fulbright Seminars and W&J’s participation arose from those conversations,” he said.

W&J was selected for the seminar, and the topic was chosen to reflect American culture and history through the lens of the local area, Shaughnessy said.

Last year, W&J was named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and the College will continue its work with the Fulbright Commission to provide international educational opportunities. In addition, Shaughnessy said the school plans to host a group from China in conjunction with the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE)…